You may be surprised to learn that your baby, who appears to only eat, sleep, and poop, is actually learning at every moment. Baby’s are designed to learn. Everything they hear, see and feel gives them information about the world around them, which helps them communicate their needs and interests.
In the first years of life there is a rapid development of the brain. How can you help your baby to learn? You are your child’s favorite (and first) teacher. You don’t have to read Ovid from the first day. Mama, your child really just needs your love and attention. Play, talk, sing, read, and snuggle your baby as much as you can. We’ll show you how to help your baby learn and highlight the important milestones that they will reach along the way.
Baby Milestones by Month: A Parents’ Guide to Tracking Your Child’s Development in the First Year
What babies learn
Babies can learn through a variety of ways, including their senses and play, as well as social interaction, problem solving, and interactions with others.
Babies gather information by using their senses. They absorb all sounds, sights and textures around them. The sensory input is the basis of their learning.
Babies can also learn by actively interacting with their environment. Sensorimotor development is the stage where babies learn to use their mouths, hands and bodies to manipulate and discover objects. They also develop motor skills. In a short time, they’ll learn to grasp toys, shake rattles and giggle.
Social interactions are also important for a baby’s development and learning. Baby’s can recognize their caregivers by their faces and voices, and they learn social cues, language and communication through responsive interactions. Your baby will learn to make more complex language sounds when you respond to their cries and coos. This kind of learning doesn’t stop in early childhood. Singing, reading out loud, talking, and playing peek-aboo (that old favorite!) are all great ways to learn. Singing, reading aloud, talking and playing peek-a-boo (that old standby!) are all powerful ways to encourage language development.
Babies are also natural problem-solvers, and they’re always testing out new ideas. Your little lovebug is an expert at trial and error. She will drop the spoon repeatedly, not to frustrate her parents but to figure out what to do next.
Supporting baby learning
Early brain development is rapid. Every experience, such as playing with toys, exploring nature, or interacting, forms neural pathways that form the foundation for future learning.
Repetition and routine are key in supporting the brain development of babies and their learning. By engaging in routines and familiar activities, babies can develop a sense order and predictability. Repeating experiences and actions (such as reading the same books over and over again) helps babies to reinforce concepts, gain confidence and develop skills.
By interacting and including your baby in your everyday activities, you’re already supporting their learning. But there are some sweet games and toys that can make learning fun for both of your.
Play games with your baby to help them learn.
- Dramatic stories
Include different voices, tones and volumes in your storytime. This will improve your child’s listening skills and cognitive abilities. Add sound effects to the pictures for an extra bonus. - Bounce around
Show your child how to bounce the ball against a wall and bounce it back to them once they are able to roll the ball. When the ball hits the ground, say “boom”. Repeat several times. Then, let them take a turn and continue to say “boom”. Finally, bounce the balls, but remain silent. Applaud any attempts to “boom”.
- Sing-along
The simple melodies of nursery rhymes and children’s classics engage young ears and support language comprehension by rhyming. Even before they can sing, babies who are taught basic hand gestures will be able to join in on songs.
First-year milestones: frequently asked questions
Remember that these physical milestones are only guidelines. Each baby will develop at his or her own pace. Baby milestones can be used in conjunction with other metrics to track your child’s health and development.
Encourage your baby to play and tummy-time under supervision. This will help them develop their motor skills through interaction and gentle encouragement. If you are concerned about your baby’s motor skills and developmental milestones, talk to your child’s doctor. He or she may recommend that you consult a pediatric occupational therapy.
Q. Q. When does a baby learn to roll?
Between the ages 4 and 7 months, babies begin to learn to roll. The neck and upper body need to be strong in order for a baby to roll over. This is largely achieved through tummytime. At first, rolling over may surprise them. They might accidentally roll onto the tummy when reaching for a child’s toy. With practice, however, they will begin to understand the body movements that can lead to them rolling over on purpose.
Around the 4 to 5 month mark, you may see your baby begin to roll from his back to his tummy. Around 6 or 7 month, rolling from the tummy to the back is more common. As their neck strength and core strength develops, babies can control their movements better and push themselves to the side or roll onto their back.
Rolling over is a sign of new-found independence for your little one, who can now explore the world and change their position. It’s exciting!
Related: Four-month milestones
Q. Q. When will babies be able to sit up on their own?
Sitting up has a broad range of timelines. Between 4 and 6 month old babies begin to lay the foundations for sitting up. However, they usually start to do so independently between 6 to 9 months. It is a significant milestone in the motor development of a child, because it signifies that they are no longer dependent on external support and can now control their body positions.
Around 4 to 6 month old babies are starting to benefit from all that tummy-time. They have stronger core muscles and better control of their head and neck. The babies gradually learn to stand up using their forearms on their stomach. They can then build up the strength they need to sit.
Around 6 months, babies will begin to use support. They may prop themselves up in a tripod or add pillows for extra stability. They’ll become more confident and balanced as they gain experience.
Around 9 months old, most babies can sit up on their own without any other assistance. They can sit up, balance themselves and do activities while sitting. It’s a new way of seeing the world for them.
Related: Nine-month milestones
Q. Q. When do babies start crawling?
When will your baby be able to move around? It’s normal for babies to not crawl until they are between 7 and 10 months old. Some babies may roll, scoot or cruise on furniture until they are ready to take their first steps.
Around 7 months you may start to notice signs that your baby is ready to crawl. Your baby might push up on their hands and knees or rock back and forward, or pivot onto their tummy. These movements are a sign that your baby is developing the strength and coordination required for crawling.
Some babies will begin crawling on their hands and knees between 8 and 10 month old. They can propel themselves forward or in reverse. Some babies may choose to crawl in a different way, like the “bear” crawl or “army crawl”.
Place favorite toys just out-of-reach and encourage your child to reach them. Allow them to play and move around in a safe environment, such as a playpen, or another supervised area. Encourage their gross motor skills by playing.
Related: Activities for 7-month olds: Promoting baby’s growth
Q. Q. When does a baby learn to walk?
When it comes to learning how to walk, all babies are different. Some babies learn to walk earlier than others, while some may need more time to master the balance. According to the updated 2022 developmental milestones set by the AAP/CDC, babies should take their first steps around 15 months. By 18 months they should be able walk unassisted.
Your baby’s ability to balance and support his body weight while moving forward with one foot depends on the strength of their legs. Be patient and encourage your baby to take those first steps.
Dr. Graebert says that if your baby was prematurely born, you should use an adjusted birth date for the first two-years of their life to monitor milestones. You can calculate the ‘adjusted’ age by subtracting your baby’s actual age from how many weeks premature they were.
Many babies start to show signs that they are ready to walk as early as nine to twelve months. While holding furniture or the hand or leg of a caregiver, they may be able to pull themselves up and stand. The child may start to walk along the furniture while holding onto it, gradually gaining strength and balance.
Your child may begin to walk independently between 12 and 15 months. Around 18 months, your child will gain confidence and more stability.
If you want to help your child make their first steps, give them a safe environment to explore. You can do this by babyproofing your home, or taking your baby to a play area or park. Use push toys or hold your child’s hands to help them learn to place one foot in front another. Avoid using an infant walker as it can be dangerous. This milestone can be supported by unstructured activities and gross motor skills.
Related: When does a baby start to walk?
Q. Q. When will babies start to clap when they are born?
Around the 15-month mark, you may start to notice your baby clapping their hands. Clapping is an important milestone for your baby’s motor and social development. It allows them to show their joy and participate in interactive play.
Around 9 months old, some babies will start to clap when they see other people clapping. They may even try to do it themselves. They can usually bring two objects together at this stage due to their rapidly developing motor skills.
Around 15 months old, babies begin to realize that clapping can be a way to express joy, excitement or to show celebration. Their little hands will become more coordinated with practice and their clapping will become more rhythmic.
What is a good way to encourage clapping in children? Clapping with your baby while playing interactive songs or singing. You can encourage them to clap by cheering them on. Hooray!
Here are 20 of the best milestone blankets for your baby to help you track their first year.
First-year Cognitive Milestones: Frequently Asked Questions
Are you curious about the cognitive development of your baby in his first year? You must remember that every baby is different and develops at a different pace. However, providing lots of exploration opportunities and positive reinforcement will help them grow and learn. You can reach out to the pediatrician of your child if you are concerned about their cognitive development.
Q. Q. When do babies begin to learn about object permanence?
Many babies reach this milestone between 4 and 8 month old.
Around 3 months old, babies begin to recognize familiar objects. However, around 4 to 6 month, they will start to notice when those objects disappear and then reappear in other rooms or under favorite blankets.
Around 9 months old, your baby may start to look for items that were dropped or partially hid (a good time to play hide and seek using a favorite toy). You might find your child surprised or curious if a favorite toy suddenly reappears.
Around 8 to 9 months, the permanence of objects is more established. It’s at this time that games like peek-aboo are more enjoyable. Watching the anticipation and surprise of your child can be adorable. Object permanence also applies to the people they love. Separation anxiety can also develop at the same time that object permanence. Your child may cry or grab for you if they feel you are leaving or not around. Assure your child that you will return and give them extra time to transition. This will help them process their feelings. This will become easier with time.
Separation anxiety can be real, but it is also temporary
Q. Q. When does a baby learn his or her name?
Your baby will likely start responding to his or her name between the ages 6 and 9 months. This is an important milestone for their social development as it helps them become more aware of their own identity.
Your child may show signs that they recognize their name as early as six months. They might turn their head when called or respond to it. However, it will still take some time for them to be able to call their name.
As babies approach 9 months of age, they become more consistent with their ability to recognize and respond to their name. The baby may turn to the sound of his or her name, smile, or babble as a response. It’s adorable to see them grow into their own personality.
Use your baby’s name in all of your daily activities to help them learn it. Use their name in conversations, songs, stories, and games. Also, celebrate their achievements by using their moniker.
Q. Q. When do babies start to talk?
When babies begin to speak, the timeline can be different from child to child. Around 6 months, babies begin to squeal and make different sounds. By 9 months, many babies begin to babble.
Between 9 and 12 months old, your baby may begin to say their first words. They might use simple syllables such as “mama” or “dada,” but also words like “ba”, “da”, or to refer to familiar objects or their parents. It’s exciting to watch them communicate their wants and needs.
Between 12 and 18 month olds, their vocabulary will grow. They’ll be able use simple phrases like “bye bye”, “more Milk” and “all Done”. At this age, they may also begin to understand receptive languages and can follow simple instructions like “can I find the leash for my dog?”
Many toddlers begin to use sentences of two or three words to express themselves between 18 and 24 months. They may have a more comprehensible speech, but still make some funny mispronunciations.
By the time they reach 24-30 months old, children have a vocabulary between 50 and 100 words. They can also have basic conversations. The sentences become longer and more grammatically accurate. By the age of 3, their vocabulary may have increased again and range between 200 and 1,000 words. Note that the range is wide!
Engage your child in conversation even if he or she is not yet responding. You can add to their sentences with phrases like “you want to play ball?” Take your green ball and play outside. Read aloud. Sing. Engage them in imaginative play.
Related: Talking to your baby, even if they don’t know how to answer you
Know that milestones are only estimates and some babies will learn to speak later than others. This is all normal. You can ask your child’s doctor for an assessment if you are concerned about their speech and language development. This could be due to lack of babbling, limited vocabulary or even a loss of words. They may refer you a speech-language therapist, developmental therapist or hearing specialist. It can be difficult to raise concerns about your child’s development. However, early intervention is the most effective.